An elderly zookeeper was mauled and eaten by his own tigers when he went to feed them.

The tigers attacked Mauro Lagiard from behind as he entered the enclosure at a closed-down zoo, near Turin, in northern Italy.

He was dragged 100ft while his wife watched, helpless, outside the cage.

According to the Daily Mail, Police said his dismembered body was later found by the tigers' water trough.

Mr Lagiard and his wife had cared for the tigers together since the animal  sanctuaryclosed down in 2010 due to problems from the economic crisis.

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The couple lived on site in a camper van near the tiger enclosure.

The retired zookeeper was fearless and devoted to the tigers according to reports in the Italian media.

He went in to the cage to give the tigers chicken meatballs on Tuesday night.

However, the alpha-male of the pack, named Samir, went in for the kill, quickly followed by two others of the pack. Five recently born cubs watched the attack.

The tigers dragged the zookeeper through the dirt to a clearing and tore him to pieces.

Hearing horrific screams, the zookeeper's wife Carla called for medics.

However, the 73-year-old, walking with the help of two sticks, was not able to come to her husband's rescue and could only watch the agonizing scene from outside the cage.

Once the ambulance arrived, it was half an hour before medics could get close to him.

According to reports, the tiger that attacked first was his favorite, even though the same animal had attacked him before two years ago and caused him to spend eight months in hospital.

The zookeeper blamed himself, saying he was wearing cologne, confusing the animal. It was a miracle' that he had survived, he said.

Mrs Lagiard refused to blame the tigers, saying: 'My husband and Samir did not get on. If I had gone it would never have happened.' 

Neighbors said the animals were malnourished and aggressive. The tigers were fed just twice a week.

The couple always loved big cats and originally kept both tigers and leopards at a villa outside Turin.

After problems with the neighbors, they were evicted. The cats were almost put down.

At the last minute the owner of an animal sanctuary, the Martinat Oasis, came to their aid by offering them space at his park.  

Tourists would be able to see the tigers, but the couple had to take care of the maintenance themselves, he said.

In 2010 large bills and dwindling numbers of tourists forced the closure of the zoo.

The tigers are currently in the care of vets while their fate is decided. Samir is likely to be put down.